Page 87

“I have a job though and people are depending on me. I was given way more grace than most people get and I have to finish shooting.”
“I’m still not convinced Jeremy isn’t behind all of this.”
“I feel like that’s just a very big accusation. It’s one thing to be in love with me but to try and kill you out of jealousy?” I wince. I have yet to tell Veronica that he told me he’s in love with me because I don’t want things to be even more weird on set. Veronica has a terrible poker face.
“What if you guys just did the table reads here?” he offers.
I shake my head in disappointment. “Table reads? No babe, that ship has sailed. They had someone fill in for me while they ran lines. The table reads are done. I have to go do these scenes cold now and pray to God I do them right.”
“I can come,” he tells me as he tries to get up and I’m immediately next to him putting my hands on his chest.
“No,” I tell him. “You absolutely cannot come. I need you to rest and get better.” I lean forward and drag my lips across his. “I miss you.” I bite my bottom lip and he raises an eyebrow at me before dragging his tongue across his bottom lip.
“I’ve been trying to put my mouth on your cunt for days, but you won’t let me.” He leans back and crosses his arms. “I told you to sit on my face and ride it, but you didn’t want to.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to, I just…I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I told you I’d keep my hands down. My tongue isn’t hurt, Shay.” He winks and my skin heats under his gaze. “I’m coming,” he tells me as he gets up with a wince. “I’ll wait in the car, but at least I’ll be close. You’re going to be gone ten hours and I will go crazy thinking about you being out there that long without me.”
“But you’re going to wait in the car for that long? Usually, you’re walking around and certainly not in pain.”
“Either I’m coming or you’re not going.”
“Damian, you’re not being reasonable. The doctors said you need to be lying down, not in a car for most of the day.” I don’t even want to tell him about the appearance I have at a premiere for my friend’s movie at the end of the week. It’s not a huge red-carpet event, but I did say I would be there and they’ve already announced my attendance so I have to show up.
That’s tomorrow’s problem.
I sit next to him on the bed and put my hands on his shoulders gently. One was dislocated in the crash and I see it on his face every time he moves it. “Stay here, please. I don’t want to be worried about you being in pain or something happening while I’m trying to film. It’ll just fuck with me and they’ve already delayed shooting enough for me. I need to be on my A-game.” I explain in hopes he can understand. “Annette will be here if you need anything.”
“I don’t need Annette, Shay. I need to be where you are.” He sighs. “But I know I’m no good to you right now.” I see the disappointment all over his face, like he feels like he’s letting me down. Like it’shisfault that he got hurt.
“You’re always good to me.” I brush my lips across his, hoping he understands that I really do just want him to get better. “I’ll be fine,” I whisper and he nods.
“I’m not happy about it.”
“I know. I’m not happy about my boyfriend being hurt either.” I frown at him.
He gives me a small smile and strokes my cheek gently with his thumb. “Have a great day, baby. I’m sure you’ll do amazing as usual.”
I smile at his words because there is nothing likehispraise. I press my lips to his one final time.
“CUT! Better. Much better. Let’s take five,” the director, Lucas, says.
I just shot a scene with Jeremy in my apartment where I’m practically in his lap as we discuss our plans for the future unbeknownst to his character that I’m carrying his child. I climb off of him, untangling us in the process when I feel his hand around my wrist.
“Shay.”
“Yes?”
“I’m really sorry.” I blink at him, not really knowing what to say because I’m not sure I’m buying what he’s selling. He switches the microphone tucked into his pants off and I do the same because the crew really can hear our conversations between takes if we don’t switch them off. “I know I came off like a dick and Derek told me the circumstances about Damian being married and I feel like a huge asshole for that.”
“You should feel like one! That wasn’t for you to tell me. Even if his marriage wasn’t just a favor and they were consummating like bunnies, it still wasn’t okay the way you exploded that all over me. Out of jealousy? Seriously, Jeremy?”
“I know, Shay. I…I guess I just thought if we were ever really single at the same time, we’d give it a try, and with the show ending, I guess I’m just struggling with you not being a main fixture in my life anymore.”
My heart softens slightly because I hadn’t thought about it that way. It’s definitely not the same when you’re not filming together anymore. It’s like with any new job, sometimes you lose touch with people from your old one unless you really make an effort. “I understand, but that’s still not an excuse.”
“I know and I hate that I made things awkward and uncomfortable between us.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Any chance we can still be friends?”